Friday August 18, 2006

Since I still have so much more to lose it’s sometimes easy to become discouraged. I realized this week, however, that I’ve reached and surpassed what I’ve always considered to be a milestone marker. I  now need to lose less weight to get to my goal than I’ve already lost. Let me explain. I either want to be ready for plastics (lose a total of 215 pounds) by the time I am 30, which is Dec. 16, 2007, OR I want to have all my weight gone, including plastics in three years from my surgery date, which will be Sept. 28, 2008 (loss of 235 pounds, including loose skin removed).

I’ve lost 118 pounds as of last weekend which means I have 97 pounds to go before I hit the first goal and 117 pounds to go before I hit the second one. Part of that 117 pounds will be loose skin.

*********************************************************************

I recently got something from a friend that I printed out and will put on my bathroom mirror to read every morning as I get ready. I wanted to share it with you all here and hopefully it will be an encouragement to you as well:

My Best Day Ever

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever. There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I’m going to celebrate! Today, I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger. I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart. I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds.

 

Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice. Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I’ll make someone smile. I’ll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don’t even know.  Today, I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down.  I’ll tell a child how special he is, and I’ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.

 

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me.  I’ll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine. And tonight, before I go to bed, I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

 

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!